How important was that result in getting confidence ahead of facing Aston Villa on Sunday?
I think before we talk about anything or the confidence boost, I think we’ve got to say we had to come and win tonight and do a good job here. We knew it was going to be a difficult game and it was. They played really well at the London Stadium, their football was so good, Viborg and thankfully, we got a goal which gave us a little bit of breathing space and we went on to win quite well in the end.
Were you worried about what could have happened if they got an early goal?
Of course because it was such a big night for them and it was probably a banana skin for us really. Quite often, these games in the competition, you can see some strange results maybe because some of the teams don’t maybe treat it in the right way, think they can beat them but there’s a lot of football where there’s not an awful lot between a lot of the teams. I know we play at an elite level, but I’ve got to say Viborg in the two games played really well and deserved the support they are getting from people inside of the stadium because they have done well.
How pleased are you for another season of European football?
I think that from our point of view, West Ham are back in Europe again and we are going to have another go. We had a great run last year, got to the semi-finals, it would be great if we can have another good go at it. We will but also, on the other sides of that, are the demands of the Premier League as well which as I’ve said in interviews, Thursday/Sunday football has never been an easy thing.
How pleasing was it to see Gianluca Scamacca and Said Benrahma score?
Really pleased because we are just beginning to get a little bit back where we think they are getting closer to being ready. The biggest thing is just getting them with us in the team, how we play. I was a wee bit concerned tonight because we had quite a few in Thilo (Kehrer), Gianluca, Maxi (Cornet) and we’re bringing Angelo Ogbonna back. We are probably pushing him a little bit sooner than we would have liked. I thought he did terrific tonight, Angelo, considering it was his first 90 minutes for over a year now.
How far away are Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet from starting in the Premier League?
I think they ready. If you said to me, ‘do I think they are ready to play 90 minutes in the Premier League,’ they might not be ready to play that but they are certainly ready to play good parts of it. They are right in my thoughts, yes.
Has this come at a perfect time ahead of facing Aston Villa?
This was a competition we wanted to try and get through. We earned the right by finishing seventh in the Premier League so we want to try and stay in it if we can.
Is it a competition where the players are really motivated to go and do well in it?
I think we will be. I think we will be excited by looking at the draw but as I said, the balance of that, being a Premier League manager and being in the Premier League, is the Premier League games will come after it. There is a balance and sometimes, you are trying to weigh up what players you can play and what you can’t.
Is there any latest on your bids for Lucas Paqueta and Hans Vanaken?
I’ve not heard any more today about either of them. I probably wouldn’t pick anything up until tomorrow morning.
What is your impression of Viborg after these two matches?
I am really impressed by the set up, I am really impressed by the stadium and I know that sounds [odd] probably because it is a small stadium, but for such a small community to have such good support here, they have supported their team. I think they have a good team, Viborg and they play in a fashion which is very, very good. Might not always get you victory but it’s a good style to watch. You like a lot of the stuff they do and they played really well in the first game at the London Stadium. I had to say we were a little bit fortunate to come away with a 3-1 victory, but I thought tonight we were much better and we looked much more competitive than we did a week or so ago.
How would you rate Viborg compared to a team from the Premier League or from the United Kingdom?
Look, it’s really difficult but let me tell you, every game, whoever you play in football is difficult to judge. Last year, we had a difficult cup experience against a non-league team, we were 1-0 down and we were going out and we scored in the 95 th minute or something to equalise. We had to bring on Declan Rice to get us the goal. A lot of the levels in football, sometimes you look at the Premier League and you will think ‘wow, they are super, it must be fantastic.’ Let’s be fair, a lot of it is, but there is also another part of it where Viborg played very well tonight and have done. Their football was very good in the two games. Maybe on another day, if they had taken a few of their chances, it is different, that is football. Maybe that is why we are better, because we have maybe a better centre forward or better defenders but it is very difficult to judge because I think whoever you play, even last year, we went to Dinamo Zagreb, we’ve been in Austria, Belgium and all of the games are really difficult. There is not an easy game in Europe, so I think Viborg will be pleased with how they performed and take something from it.
